The first five business apps you should install on a Windows 8 device

Touch-friendly Remote Desktop app

One of the biggest attractions of Windows 8 is Microsoft's effort to bridge the gap between consumer-focused touchscreen devices and business productivity systems. The Windows 8 operating system will run both so-called "legacy" applications on the traditional desktop and the new touch/mobile-friendly "Windows 8 style" (formerly) Metro apps available through the Windows Store. Windows RT, for ARM-based devices, runs only the new style apps.

While many business users are likely to revert to the desktop applications for more sophisticated productivity tasks, those with tablets and touchscreen laptops are going to be looking for new style apps to fill business needs. In the time leading up to launch day, Microsoft has populated the Windows Store with a sprinkling of apps in each of several categories, including Business and Productivity.

I'm writing this prior to Windows 8 release and rumor has it that the company may be "holding back" some of the best apps to release in conjunction with the OS launch (see the More on the Way section at the end of this article) so there will certainly be additions to my list at that time.

In the meantime, here are five apps that business users should consider installing immediately on a new Windows 8 device.

Remote Desktop

If I could install only one app on my Windows 8 tablet, the Remote Desktop app would be it. This is the app that gives you a full Windows desktop even on the Windows RT version of a tablet, but with a simple, touch-friendly user interface.

Through the miracle of the RDP protocol and RemoteFX technologies, the new Touch Keyboard, Touch Pointer and Zoom features give you the kind of remote desktop experience you longed for and never could achieve with the RDP clients available for the iPad and Android tablets.

Credit: Images by Debra Littlejohn Shinder for TechRepublic

You can configure settings for each remote connection

You can also use the Remote Desktop app to connect to RemoteApp applications or use a Remote Desktop Gateway on your work network to connect to corporate PCs without setting up a VPN connection.

Credit: Images by Debra Littlejohn Shinder for TechRepublic

OneNote MX provides a touch friendly interface

OneNote MX

One of the most useful functions of the old Windows tablet PCs (yes, I had one of the first XP Tablet Edition versions) was the ability to take notes in meetings and conferences in a low-key way, without having to set up a laptop. I expect note-taking to be something for which I'll use a Windows 8 tablet a lot, too. I've been using OneNote for a few years to organize the data I collect and/or create on a wide variety of subjects: financial data, projects, travel, and more.

Now we have OneNote MX for Windows 8, a touch-friendly version of my favorite note-taking and information organization tool. When you sign into the app with your Microsoft ID (Windows Live ID), it will automatically connect to any existing OneNote notebooks that you've stored on SkyDrive. It also includes a "Quick Notes" section where you can get started creating notes immediately.

The notes you create and save to SkyDrive are also available across platforms, through the OneNote apps for Android and iOS.

Credit: Images by Debra Littlejohn Shinder for TechRepublic

OneNote MX uses a wheel interface in place of the Ribbon

The app uses a wheel type interface in place of the Ribbon you're used to on the desktop version, for formatting, inserting elements and other tasks.

Credit: Images by Debra Littlejohn Shinder for TechRepublic

Evernote is an alternate app for taking notes on your Windows 8 device

I should also mention that, for those who use Evernote for note-taking, there is also a Windows 8 Evernote app.

SkyDrive

Part one of the new computing paradigm is a transition to more mobile, touch-screen devices. Part two is the movement of data to the cloud. The two go hand-in-hand, in part because these ultra-portable devices don't have terabytes of storage space available like their "old fashioned" desktop counterparts and in part because we want to be able to access the same data from different devices, no matter where we are.

SkyDrive brings a consistent, standard, cloud storage and sharing service to Windows 8 devices that integrates with other apps, such as OneNote and other Office apps.

Credit: Images by Debra Littlejohn Shinder for TechRepublic

Adding documents to your SkyDrive folders is easy

If you use SkyDrive to store your data in the cloud, you'll want to install the new SkyDrive app.

Credit: Images by Debra Littlejohn Shinder for TechRepublic

The Box app makes it easy to upload, share and work collaboratively

Box

As with note-taking, there are other options available for accessing and sharing cloud data. There is also a Windows 8 app for Box, which focuses more on collaboration and has some sophisticated features that include the ability for multiple people to leave comments on files and the option to pin live tiles to the Start screen where you can see file updates made by other collaborators. There are also batch operations for moving, copying or deleting large groups of files and folders.

Credit: Images by Debra Littlejohn Shinder for TechRepublic

Box supports the use of single sign-on with company credentials

You can sign up for an individual account or use company credentials with the Single Sign-on feature if your organization uses Box.

Credit: Images by Debra Littlejohn Shinder for TechRepublic

Install the PC Monitor Manager

PC Monitor

PC Monitor is a very handy app and service that lets you monitor and manage up to three computers at no cost. You have to install software on the PCs that you want to monitor, but then you can use your Windows 8 device to keep an eye on the status of all the computers, see which users are logged on (and log them off), view and kill processes, run scheduled tasks, and view information about the hardware and software (temperatures, fan speeds, status and uptime, CPU and memory usage, etc.).

Credit: Images by Debra Littlejohn Shinder for TechRepublic

PC Monitor allows you to see many details

The software is available for Windows 32 and 64 bit computers, Linux and Mac.

More on the Way

We know certain apps will be available after Windows 8's release, including the Office apps (which will come preinstalled on Windows RT).

Microsoft has also announced that a Windows 8 app for Skype will be released on October 26 along with the new OS, and there may very well be a few "October surprises" in the offing. Microsoft has put a lot of money and effort into encouraging developers to build Windows 8 apps so we can look forward to many more appearing in the upcoming year.

Touch-friendly Remote Desktop app

One of the biggest attractions of Windows 8 is Microsoft's effort to bridge the gap between consumer-focused touchscreen devices and business productivity systems. The Windows 8 operating system will run both so-called "legacy" applications on the traditional desktop and the new touch/mobile-friendly "Windows 8 style" (formerly) Metro apps available through the Windows Store. Windows RT, for ARM-based devices, runs only the new style apps.

While many business users are likely to revert to the desktop applications for more sophisticated productivity tasks, those with tablets and touchscreen laptops are going to be looking for new style apps to fill business needs. In the time leading up to launch day, Microsoft has populated the Windows Store with a sprinkling of apps in each of several categories, including Business and Productivity.

I'm writing this prior to Windows 8 release and rumor has it that the company may be "holding back" some of the best apps to release in conjunction with the OS launch (see the More on the Way section at the end of this article) so there will certainly be additions to my list at that time.

In the meantime, here are five apps that business users should consider installing immediately on a new Windows 8 device.

Remote Desktop

If I could install only one app on my Windows 8 tablet, the Remote Desktop app would be it. This is the app that gives you a full Windows desktop even on the Windows RT version of a tablet, but with a simple, touch-friendly user interface.

Through the miracle of the RDP protocol and RemoteFX technologies, the new Touch Keyboard, Touch Pointer and Zoom features give you the kind of remote desktop experience you longed for and never could achieve with the RDP clients available for the iPad and Android tablets.

Credit: Images by Debra Littlejohn Shinder for TechRepublic

About Deb Shinder

Debra Littlejohn Shinder, MCSE, MVP is a technology consultant, trainer, and writer who has authored a number of books on computer operating systems, networking, and security. Deb is a tech editor, developmental editor, and contributor to over 20 add...

Full Bio

Debra Littlejohn Shinder, MCSE, MVP is a technology consultant, trainer, and writer who has authored a number of books on computer operating systems, networking, and security. Deb is a tech editor, developmental editor, and contributor to over 20 additional books on subjects such as the Windows 2000 and Windows 2003 MCSE exams, CompTIA Security+ exam, and TruSecure's ICSA certification.